School Council

Setting up our school budget plan

• Standard government grants, allocated on a per-student basis
  
• Special government grants for defined purposes
• Revenues we raise ourselves, from voluntary levies and various fundraising activities.

Government provided funds are known as the school global budget. The global budget is used to fund everything you see at the school, with the exception of teacher salaries, which are looked after by the Department. We need to set a budget to cater for classroom materials, library materials, education support, teacher professional development, sports equipment, building and grounds maintenance, telecommunications, utilities, computers, relief teachers,  cleaning, administration support and so on.

The global budget does not include ‘user pays’ activities such as camps,  excursions, services of educational consultants (Speech Pathologist, Occupational Therapists), OHSC . These are funded on an at cost basis from the monies received. As an example, grants received and spent are costed outside our School Budget as a Special Purpose grant based on a successful submission to Federal Government. So this year we hope to install shade sails for playgrounds

Different schools have different approaches to managing the global budget. At Eltham North, it is a collaborative activity between School Council,  staff and Principal, and three broad process as follows:

During September and October, nominated teachers provide estimates of requirements for the various educational programs. The Principal and Assistant Principal provide estimates of other requirements. During September, the Principal prepares a broad appraisal of the indicative budget and corrects anomalies and adds any new inclusions, in consultation with other staff. In October, the School Council Finance Project team review projected revenue and expenditure, proposed adjustments and discuss requirements for family contributions. At this point, the project team is reviewing the current year budget and expenditure. The project team then present a first draft budget to School Council. In November, the project team finalise the budget, which is then presented to School Council for ratification at the November meeting. At this point, School Council approves any deficits or surplus funds.

We use Accrual Accounting procedures. Basically we have to have the $ upfront to be able to fund all programs in the schools. We require clear targets and lock in items to be funded upfront. As in previous years, we aim to achieve a modest surplus which will be transferred to a contingency reserve. In terms of completing the year to year cycle we ensure we demonstrate that Eltham North has really added quality to resource provision for all students. Examples this year include the purchase of $ 5000 worth of new reading books, $10,000 for Interactive projectors in classrooms, $ 40,000 for new Macbook ipads.  The key to our continuing success and achievement is commitment to providing quality resources for the students in our school and I thank the School Council Finance team (including Madison Quinsee (School Bursar), Kristina Chaston School Council President, Tandy Johnson (Co-Principal) Stephen Hayes (Assistant Principal) for their efforts so far this year.